Farmers' Market - Okie Style.

Our little town sets right where 2 state highways intersect.

Every corner has been bought up by chain stores.

We have Walgreens Pharmacy, Taco Bell/KFC, and Arby's.

The fourth corner is a small but wonderful little

park area.

Unfortunately, the rumor-mill says that it will soon

be another chain store.  :(

During the summer months, the little park is used on Saturdays

for a farmers' market.

My oldest daughter, Carly, is a massage therapist trying to

get her business off the ground.

I got the bright idea to have her set up at the farmers' market

with her massage chair.

Of course mom had to go with her.....

she did pretty decent her first Saturday.

I, however, was bored.....

so, I got the bright idea to sell some of my

homemade yeast rolls.

We got creative and made a sign....

Carly got a fancy rug....and customers.

I made 4 dozen rolls.

I sold out.

Then I started adding lemonade to my products.

I sold out.

I really enjoy it.

I am a people person if you haven't figured it out yet.

I get to spend 4 hours every Saturday just

chatting it up with locals and distants.

(My hair is fried, it was windy)

Even Summer got into the market....she

makes homemade laundry soaps, cleaning spray, and bug spray...ALL NATURAL.

If you have a local farmers' market, take time to visit.

Take time to get to know the vendors.....

Go away knowing you are supporting LOCAL people

and not the big chain stores.  Yah, the prices might

be higher, but the service is so much better

and you are remembered each week.

I will be very sad if the chain store does come

and tear down our little piece of paradise to

put up a parking lot..... :(

I will try to do a post of all the vendors for

you next week.

A Little Photo Booth Fun for the 4th of July!!!!

A family reunion always brings out the freaks, right?

Well, not ALL of them are freaks....

Creativity......

Family Maternity Portraits

Meet Tye and Kaci.

Kaci has one of those bodies we wish we had while pregnant.

Who am I kidding, we would take that body ANYTIME!!!

I was scared to death to do this photo shoot.

I've never had the husband show up.

After this, I will REQUIRE the husband to

be a part of the session.

A pregnant woman is a beautiful thing.

But, a pregnant woman with her husband......sigh......

Yep!  This silhouette will go down as one of my

true works of art. 

Big sister said little sister says "HI".

She told us so and we believe her!!!

I do believe this is one of my all time favorite family

pictures......look at the genuine laugh and enjoyment.

Fairy love.

Yep, it's a girl.

Thanks Tye and Kaci for trusting me.

Bass Pro Set the Scene for this Engagement Session

It was a normal day like any other around my house.

I was going about my business...eating a

burger from Braum's Dairy Store.

I happened to walk by my phone and saw the little

"message" light blinking.

My long time friend, Renee, sent an urgent message.

"Are you available to take pictures TONIGHT?"

Did I mention it was already 6:30 pm and they

live at least 45 minutes away?

It seems, Chris, the guy in the pictures was

drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

They never realized he would have to leave

in approximately 12 hours!

They thought they would have at least a week

to get some engagement pictures done...but NOOooOoOo.

I was very worried....the sun was setting....would I be

able to do this young couple justice?

Ashleigh and Chris are outdoorish type people.

The first thing that popped into my mind....

BASS PRO!

Yep!  Every one of these pictures were taken at BASS PRO!

In just about an hour, we had almost 300 pictures snapped.

I felt like we didn't have time to even get to know

each other....well, I knew Ashleigh...not Chris.

I was still fretting about the sun...MOVE. MOVE. MOVE.

We must get them done before the sun goes down!!!

Then I caught this wonderful shot!

Yes!  That my friends is what I have

been waiting a very long time to achieve...

that sweet, sweet moment where the

sun becomes my little friend!!!

I think I "squeed" a little when I saw it.

I am sure professionals have no problem

getting shots at evening time, me however

was in sheer panic.

I ended up feeling more confident about sunset pictures.

I do prefer that they be PLANNED....much less

stress on me and my props.

Chris and Ashleigh were picture taking pros and really

helped my do my job.

Oh...did you notice he looks suspiciously like

JIM CARREY?

Believe me when I say I was tempted to

write BLUE all over his face

as in LIAR LIAR.....hee hee.

Special Delivery

Meet Kamryn Alese. 

Kamryn came into this world

just a smidgen shy of her big

sister's 1st birthday.

Meet big sister, Presley.

I call Presley and Kamryn "deployment" babies.

I am sure there is another term for it.

Dad gets deployed, comes home, mom gets pregnant.

We are not sure if this family can handle

anymore deployments....hee hee.

I don't know though....if they can keep make these

beautiful babies.....we might just ship him off more

often.

See what I mean?

Thanks Val for letting me capture some precious moments

with your baby girls.

(P.S. I realized, newborn photography is NOT my thing I take

my hat off to those who can do it.)

It's a Cultural Thing......Small Town USA

I shot this picture from the graphic on the side of a trailer.

I added some bling and now I shall

have a giant poster made from this.

SIGH.

The first weekend of June is a popular one

in our hometown.

The carnival rides come to town.

The politicians get to politic.

The different groups get to fund raise.

The local musicians get to feel like rock stars.

It is SUMMERFEST TIME!!!

Unfortunately, our city department had no

idea it was coming to town.

For some reason, the mowing didn't get done.

It didn't stop people from having fun nonetheless.

They rode til they couldn't ride anymore.

They just kept their legs up out of the

grass and made sure they had good

bug spray on their legs.

You are the Cheese to My Macaroni......

(Please click the picture to see it better)

I am always looking for new and creative ways to

use my photography skills.

This picture was done with a great family....

funny story is....

while taking this very romantic picture...

the wife is actually SMELLING

his shirt!!!

The romantic moment is totally broken

by her sniffing and saying, "I don't

think I like our laundry detergent."

HEEELLLLOOOOOOOO!

Total mood buster....pffffffftttt.

Anyhow, I saw a cute poster with a

similar saying on it and thought it would

look adorable superimposed on

this picture......'cause if you didn't

KNOW she was sniffing his shirt,

you would totally think it was a

very romantic picture, right??????